Ironmen Complete Playoff Series Sweep

April 18, 2013

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Jamestown Ironmen extended their postseason last night with a 2-1 victory on the road over the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings in North American Hockey League playoff action.

It only took three games for Jamestown to wrap up the best-of-five North Division semifinal playoff series.

After a pair of impressive home victories last weekend, the Ironmen played at Kalamazoo on Wednesday night and Jamestown stuck to its recipe of great defense and discipline on the offensive attack. And it relied on goaltender Joey Ballmer.

In what was just another day at the office, Ballmer put together another outstanding performance between the pipes, making 29 saves on 30 shots in his third victory of the postseason. Through three playoff games, the netminder has made 91 saves while only allowing three goals with a save percentage of .968.

Jamestown took an early lead as Ryan Doucet netted a goal 7:36 into the first period with assists coming from Luc Gerdes and Evan Ritt.

The second period was scoreless and the third looked to be headed down that same path until Kalamazoo notched a goal with just under five minutes remaining to tie the game, 1-1.

The Ironmen didn't even flinch as Ritt buried an opportunity less than 10 seconds later to give Jamestown a 2-1 edge. Gerdes was in on the assist and the goal proved to be the game winner.

The Ironmen advance to the North Division Finals where they will take on the winner of the other semifinal series between the Soo Eagles and the Port Huron Fighting Falcons.